richy_B

This is exactly why I stopped hiring and started buying. Initially a mini digger - I used to hire in from Hewdens and it cost sod all, maybe £200 with transport for the week. The thing that got me was I had to arrange it atleast a few days in advance, then hangabout for hours waiting for it on delivery day. Sometimes there was a delay, once it got pushed back a day. So on and so forth. The lost time was the biggest financial issue, not the hire cost. Having my own mini now I grab it out for an hour to do this, a couple of hours to do that. Stuff that would be grueling and take 3 hours by hand can be done in 20 mins. Hook up the trailer and away whenever you need makes my working life so much easier. The same case for the MO now.

+1 Mark. You have to look after yourself and machine likes this will do that. With my MO there are often situations where a large petrol hedge cutter will be just as quick as using the hedge cutter attachment. The difference - feeling a bit lazy sitting in my nice comfy chair or achey hands from the vibrtations sore shoulders from the weight. I know which I prefer.

I hadn't but it looks like it had been crushed before I got it. Obviously it hadn't quite burst but when I had the flail on high flow for a week it's been enough the finish it off. On the side shift flail there are a lot of hoses and they are far too vulnerable in my opinion. The 'adaptor' had been made up by the previous owner as well from cutting it the HD muck grab. I use it to run that and my auger torque head. The problem was whoever had made it up put into too much hose so instead of sitting nicely it was bending and really tight when in use. This obviously buggered it as both pipes has split at the same spot at it's most torte (sp) point.

Hose burst on my flail. Got it replaced as well as another damaged hose from a connector the previous owner had made up. Learnt a little bit more about the particular connectors from the hose guy. Apparently not unusual sizes but uncommon on the side shift flail. Pretty pricey and I'm a bit anxious considering how many hoses are on the unit.

Depends how you treat it. PA6A if it's with a spray pack. PA6D if it's stem injection. PA6AW if it's near an aquatic environment. Additional units if you work from a ATV or tractor as well if you need them.

I don't think this is specifically correct. There isn't a license for example so a licensed contractor does not exist so cannot be a legal requirement. Works carried out by a 'qualified' person with nationally recognised certification is probably more accurate. Although that said there is no legal reason a land/home owner cannot treat JK themselves. 'Legally' you cannot knowingly let it spread. It is not 'illegal' to have it on your land. The issue nowadays is civil action and people making a claim against you for costs. Residents claiming costs from a neighbour for damage to a patio for example. You still need to be able to demonstrate on balance of probability the infestation started on their land and not yours. Not easy to do in all cases.

The 25 year guarantee isn't necessarily that it won't regrow. It is that the client will not icur financial cost / is indemnified by your and your underwriter for that period. I treat a lot of JK and I find after 2 years with no regrowth you are unlikely to see if re-emerge. Unlikely not impossible though. I've seen patches come 'back to life' after 10 years when it's been disturbed.

Depends on how extensively you intended on surveying/reporting. Crucially it will depend on how valid your report is and if it indemnifies your client against future costs etc.

What grade hydraulic oil does the MO take?

I'd be there a while with my throw bag then.

I did a double take myself - 45m Rowan!

Consider me suitably scared!

Scare us - whats the price tag on that?

Once its fitted I'll take it out with the 4 in 1 bucket and the gopro.

Can't really find any videos etc. This gives a bit of an idea. Kevin, for you driveway job it would be ace.

I don't think so, that what the self levelling bucket feature does? The floating boom basically adds minimal downward pressure to the boom so it follows the surface. Ie you have the mower with wheels and turn on float and the implement can move up and down with bumps and ruts.

Thanks. I have the bull bars on my 7.3s which weigh in around 50kg. I am trying to work on a way of getting more weight on the rear (wheel water ballast in is still on the list).

I guess it literally does what it says on the tin - Allows the boom to 'float' so you can follow the contours of the ground. Used similar on excavators amd thought it would be handy. Good for a flail or mower. Probably work well with the leveller and various buckets. I've been chatting with Andrew at exac one. I'm working on another flail plan.

How heavy is thay rear weight?

Love it. Bought the flail Monday, disabled the safety feature Tuesday! Haha.

Just ordered the floating boom kit for mine. Hopefully have it and fit it this week.

In your case I am not sure if you can ask for a fit note/sick note/ statement of health. This is usually after 7 days of illness.

As with a lot of legal issues you have to be 'reasonable'. If there are light duties he cam do then it's reasonable that he is offered them. If no such duties exist you do not have to create them. If maybe more appropriate to suggest he stays at home 'to aid his recovery'. Schedule a catchup meeting every two weeks. Contractual sick pay is totally dependent on your company but statutory sick pay is compulsory for employees so you will be required to pay it. He still accrues holiday pay etc whilst this is happening. If he returns to work then great if you not then you can look at dismissal based on medical grounds. Sounds scary but if your paperwork is in order then it's fine. I'm not an expert, just had some experience of it. An hour with a HR consultant might be worthwhile investment.

Not direct experience but I'd be thinking: Are all your power tools upto date in terms of servicing etc. Specifically HAVS http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/hand-tools-qa.htm If he's going down that 'route' you could well see him putting in a no win no fee type claim against you soon. Make sure your paperwork/method statements are upto spec. How long has he been employed? Under or over 12 months?

When I had mine I loved using it with the skidding grapple. It's not a full size tractor so obviously you can only lift and drag so much but generally a really good tool for moving longer lengths over a hundred metres or so. Combined with the front blade you could create a low stack ad well. For what you are saying sounds ideal. Winching was functionally fine but if you work on your own it's a sod having to get in and out of the cab a lot. If you had someone working with you it would be fine. The extra guarding is a real plus point. I ran a uniforest 35m. I had a 1.35m medium duty flail on it and it was a good set up. I used to do miles and miles of woodland path edges or rides. Bramble or light scrub being it's forte. Put the front blade down to just above ground level to give protection against stumps etc. Main problem was not enough gears though, the 2x3 forward was frustrating as it didn't feel optimal in some situations. A 2x5 with some between its 1st and 2nd; then 2nd and 3rd would have been useful. The 3rd gear was too quick for any PTO based work. Comfort - cab decent some weather protection (aside from the obvious safety aspect) but it wasn't 'comfortable' for long sessions (4 hours plus), I found my knees a bit sore as you are in quite a rigid postion. I'm 6'2" so not best suited to a compact. I sold mine to get my multione as it's gets far more use than the tractor ever did. If I was buying again though I'd go for the 860 forestry or the bidirectional and have some underbody protection fitted. It has the extra power and gears. If you have enough work for it then I'd go for it.